friday already

trying to ease back into things. it is difficult after a vacation. i forgot how much walking i do here. i already have blisters..ugh. even though i was only gone for 2 weeks, being on the subway felt wierd. not being in a city, you really don't get that 'close' to people you don't know. i'm sure i will be used to it again soon.

i wanted to share this beautiful christmas present i gave to myself. i have had this small picture of birds above my computer for a while. i don't even remember where i found it...but i printed it from the internet because i loved it so and something drew me to it.



i was so excited when i saw the actual prints for sale at small stump's etsy shop! i had to have one. they are gorgeous in person. i'm not sure where i'm hanging it yet, but this is the temporary home.


i'm getting back into the swing of flickr too..here are some favs as of late.
portrait #3
190_???
pennybridge

drawn to very feminine images this week.

and here is a favorite esty find. love these screenprinted postcards.

this is a new year.

so, i guess this is my first post of 2007. wow...last year flew by.
i am just coming back from a 10 day vacation, visiting family and going to the beach. i took some time off from the internet, flickr, blogs, etc. to just relax and enjoy. if was nice, but i am ready to dive into something new. not sure what that is yet, but i'm ready.

i spent a lot of time with my 6 year old nephew. he is growing up so fast and is so smart. he is very good with good byes. he just told me, "relax, i'll see you next season." i love that he knows he will see me each season, as i usually visit him every 3-4 months. we spent new year's eve together at the beach. as the evening approached, he reminded us about "the bread". he was referring to the new year's toast, which he also called the "toast and butter".

during this vacation, i had intended to come up with grand plans and life revelations, but this did not happen. instead, i just was. i took time to be away from my normal routine and reflect on what is important to me and what i want to be important. now i am refreshed, renewed, and ready for the new year.
happy new year everyone! enjoy the simple beauty.

happy joy

have a wonderful holiday filled with togetherness and joy. be back soon...

believe.

someone the other day told me they believed in me and in my work. sometimes we just need to hear things like this. sometimes it is hard to keep going when you are not sure if you're getting anywhere or even where you want to go. we all need that little push to tell us what we are doing matters and means something to someone. i would like to remind everyone to let someone in your life know that you believe in them, because it will really mean something to them.

ok, now on to fun stuff:
add a little holiday cheer to your home.
lately i have been loving pinecones.
janne peters {via anne at strandgut}: i am SO in LOVE with her work!! look at this.
and...here's my almost friday flickr feature: miss_pulula. i am loving this, this, and this. see more on her blog.

made some pistachio cranberry icebox cookies from gourmet magazine over the weekend. yum!

last week i went to see an interesting exhibit at the museum of arts and design, simply droog. i really liked the layout of the exhibit. my favorite piece was a set of pantone mugs by onkar singh kular. they were all lined on a wall in slightly varying shades of light coffee brown. here is the descripion: "what happens when the consumer has so many possibilites from which to choose that he can no longer decide?...choose the color closest to your favorite coffee or tea." the upcoming exhibit, radical lace and subversive knitting looks amazing!

discovered these amazing prints via decor8. they remind me of joan walsh anglund illustrations from my youth.

last minute details

hello friends. happy friday! only 2 more weekends left until christmas. i am going home to see my family on the 24th and i can't wait to revel in traditions: watching my dad drink hot buttered rum{ewww...i can't stand the stuff}, eating all my mom's delicious cookies, seeing my little nephews faces on christmas morning, and just being. i will spend time outdoors in nature and try to enjoy stillness and quiet times.

but, until then, there is lots of running around and shopping still to do. i have 3 holiday/birthday celebrations this weekend and a few more gifts to make and buy. as usual, i have waited until the last moments.

since i did not post yesterday, today i will combine my almost thursday flickr feature with my friday favorites.
for my thursday feature, i would like to highlight a lovely lady from sweden:
agneskarin. l love her self-portraits, her stark and beautiful outdoor shots, and her interesting shots of people. you can see more of her work on her website.

and here are some of the photos that have touched my heart and sparked something in me this week:
1. heart-warming season.
2. silent.
3. christmas carol.
4. nu town.
5. winter some years ago. {one of my all time favs!!}

have a happy weekend.

p.s. does anyone know what happened to carlota??

my movie..continued

so, the first song i heard this morning was the only living boy in new york, by simon and garfunkel. a beautiful, but rather dreary song. i guess it was fitting since i am always questioning how long i want to stay living in new york. i often times feel lonely for a smaller town and slower way of life. in a couple of weeks, i will have some time off and am going to visit my family and think about my next step. i know i am not through with new york yet, but it is good to have a plan.

some inspiration:
hable construction. i don't remember how i stumbled upon this, but it's lovely.
lotta's blog.
winter water factory.
i heart christmas lights!